Guarded optimism might be the best way to depict the 49ers’ wide receiver unit on Michael Crabtree’s one-year anniversary of his Achilles tear.

Several worthy candidates are lined up to catch passes from Colin Kaepernick and his four understudies as offseason training activities began today. (Note: Media access this week will take place on Wednesday, so there will be no live reports from today’s action.)

It’s quite a different look than a year ago, when doom and gloom engrossed the 49ers’ wideout unit.

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When last year’s OTA’s opened, Crabtree went in motion on the practice field, planted his foot to start running a route and stunningly tore his right Achilles tendon.

The 49ers’ top candidates to replace him then were Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams – each rehabilitating new anterior cruciate ligaments –– and A.J. Jenkins, a first-round draft bust who caught no passes as a rookie.

Also given an opportunity to seize: Ricardo Lockette, Marlon Moore, Joe Hastings, Chad Hall and Quinton Patton, a fourth-round draft pick and the only one of that cluster who had a game-day impact.

Is it any surprise that Anquan Boldin and tight end Vernon Davis caught 20 of Kaepernick’s 21 touchdown passes in the ensuing regular season? Crabtree accounted for the other touchdown, in a Dec. 15 win at Tampa Bay that was his second game of an impressive comeback.

OTA’s begin this time with Boldin and Crabtree again atop the depth chart, but with stronger competition behind them, and this phase of the offseason program means wideouts will be covered by defensive backs.

Stevie Johnson looks to reenergize his career in his native Bay Area. Brandon Lloyd looks to restart his after a year hiatus. Rookie Bruce Ellington, a fourth-round pick, possibly brings the freshest, quickest legs.

If any of those six don’t pan out or sustain an injury, the 49ers might turn to Chuck Jacobs, Jon Baldwin, Kassim Osgood, David Reed or Devon Wylie.

It’s Crabtree, though, who’s been Kaepernick’s favorite target. Both are entering the final seasons of their contracts. The 49ers have expressed a desire to extend their deals, and the next two months seem like the best window to do so before training camp.

Contract talks seem like a much easier headache to cope with than last year’s Achilles tear. “Well, it’s a setback,” Harbaugh said last May. “But, Michael’s young. He’s strong. With everything, he’ll have a positive approach to healing and we’ll anticipate great things.”

A year later, great things seem more attainable. Here are other position areas of key interest for the four-week OTAs that culminate with a mandatory minicamp June 17-19:

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Quarterback: Kaepernick started every game last season, so there was no panic over Colt McCoy as his No. 2. McCoy is now on the Redskins, opening the back-up spot to Blaine Gabbert, Josh Johnson, McLeod Bethel-Thompson or long-shot rookie Kory Faulkner.

Running back: With Frank Gore approaching his 10th season, again the attention turns to his unknown successor. Kendall Hunter is the incumbent No. 2, and although he’s averaged 4.6 yards per carry in his three seasons, he’s never gained more than 475 yards in a season. Marcus Lattimore’s right knee, Carlos Hyde’s arrival and LaMichael James’ mindset all provide drama.

Cornerback: Where does Chris Culliver stand in his return from last training camp’s ACL tear, and is he indeed ready to start for the first time? Top pick Jimmie Ward (foot) isn’t expected to fully practice until training camp, so it’s a great chance for others to show they can cover slot receivers, cornerbacks such as Eric Wright, Perrish Cox, Chris Cook and Darryl Morris. Rookies Dontae Johnson and Kenneth Acker join the mix, too.

Offensive line: Miami Dolphins outcast Jonathan Martin can acclimate into becoming the swing tackle, especially now that prospect Luke Marquardt is felled by a foot fracture. Daniel Kilgore has the license, as Harbaugh would put it, to take over as the starting center. But how will rookie Marcus Martin or possibly Joe Looney challenge for that spot?

Outside linebacker: A week after his no-contest pleas in court, Aldon Smith is expected to be on the field. Dan Skuta and Corey Lemonier are in line again to back up Smith, but a wild-card contestant is rookie Aaron Lynch, by way of Notre Dame and South Florida.

Inside linebacker: NaVorro Bowman’s temporary replacement likely won’t be pegged until the full-contact days of training camp. Michael Wilhoite is the projected leader for that spot, but Nick Moody’s speed and tenacity shouldn’t be discounted, nor the possible impacts of rookies Chris Borland and Shayne Skov.

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Thanks, Cam. Another insightful, well-thought and non-biased piece of work. You don’t take player’s side and don’t attempt to set-up players. My question though, What about Roman– more wide receivers but can he call a game that SPREADS the ball around with balance; and can Kaepernick find them or continue to just look for Crabtree, Davis and Boldin. Montana, Young and Walsh would loved to have had all of these wide receiver and running back weapons. So would Sean Payton.

Geo77

The depth looks markedly better than last year. The thing that caught my eye though – no touchdown throws to running backs last year? Jeez, let’s open up the offense, put more pressure on the oppositons’ DBs and open up some underneath routes for the backs. Last year I’m not sure how much only having 2 receivers who the defenses had to take seriously was the result of a lack of talent, and how much was a result of extremely conservative offense game plans. I suspect both were involved, but the coaching staff doesn’t get called out enough for the often times poor results of their conservative game planning.

Mike Lyons

Kap was able to find enough receivers to come within a whisker of going to the Super Bowl. I think the 49ers improve if they spread the ball around even more, particularly to running backs.

FriscoSF

They have done their typical great job in the draft
And, the WR corps has definitely been improved with depth
But, I am a little disappointed that they didn’t use a higher pick for a speedy WR
Even if they’d had to trade a 3rd and 4th rounder to move up

I wish they had used a higher pick for a CB or two

FriscoSF

I wonder if they could have used LaMichael James out of the backfield
As a RB or slot receiver
Too late for that now, I guess

NinerED

No sense in trading up with a 4th they used to get an established veteran at the position, who we KNOW can beat Sherman.